US wildfires close in on city

Powerful winds have pushed a raging wildfire to the doorstep of a wealthy US coastal city, threatening to destroy dozens more homes and leading to the evacuation of more than 20,000 people.

Firefighters were putting out roof fires today as gusts drove the flames down from the steep canyons above Santa Barbara and started burning homes in the residential flatlands.

Once tame, the fire front now stretches for five miles, California City Fire Chief Andrew DiMizio said. “Literally last night, all hell broke loose,” he said.

Ash rained down on empty neighbourhoods of multimillion-dollar mansions and mobile home parks, as huge clouds of smoke billowed over the blackened mountains.

Tinder dry weather, scorching temperatures and wind gusts of up to 65 mph were forecast for today. The 3,500-acre fire was 10% contained, DiMizio said.

About 2,500 firefighters are battling the fire, which began on Tuesday and was quickly spread by gusting winds. It has razed or damaged 75 homes so far.

More than 20,000 people had been ordered to leave their homes, and another 16,000 were in threatened areas and warned to be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice, said Battalion Chief Mike Carr of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Authorities said more than 800 people were in evacuation shelters.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Fire spokesman Gary Pitney said flames jumped a road dividing the hilly terrain from the flatlands below and ignited spot fires in brush surrounding houses. The fire also pushed west across the key thoroughfare between Santa Barbara and wine country to the north, he said.

Kelley Gouette, a deputy incident commander with the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said he requested that officials bring in a DC-10 plane to drop larger loads of water on the blaze.

Santa Barbara County Fire Chief Tom Franklin said the blaze was particularly tough to fight as it spread into rugged terrain with thick brush that served as fuel and limited firefighting aircraft.

Firefighters are “running pretty thin on equipment,” he said.

Officials said 11 firefighters were injured, including three who were injured when they sheltered in a house during a firestorm. They were in good condition at a Los Angeles burn centre but two will need skin grafts and surgery. Other injuries ranged from smoke inhalation to sprained ankles.

The seasonal wildfires that menace Santa Barbara – home to screen stars, former presidents and Oprah Winfrey – roared to life earlier in the year than usual but their ferocity is familiar.

Firefighters have been wary of “sundowners” – fierce winds that late in the day can sweep down from the Santa Ynez Mountains towering close behind this coastal city.

In November, a wind-driven fire burned 200 houses in Santa Barbara and Montecito, including the home of actor Christopher Lloyd. Winfrey’s estate escaped, along with the home of actor Rob Lowe, among many celebrities who have homes in the area.